• LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Contact us: 0345 504 6536
Social Enterprise Mark CIC
  • Accreditation
    • Aspiring Social Enterprises
      • Benefits
      • Qualification criteria
      • Application process
      • Aspiring social enterprise case studies
      • Register your interest
      • Annual licence fee
    • Social Enterprise Mark
      • Benefits
      • Qualification criteria
      • Application process
      • Do I qualify?
      • Register your interest
      • Annual licence fee
      • How is the Mark different?
    • Social Enterprise Gold Mark
      • Benefits
      • Gold Mark assessment framework
      • Application process
      • Register your interest
      • Annual licence fee
      • Gold Mark holder case studies
    • International accreditation
      • Application process
      • Register your interest
      • International Mark holders
      • International licence agreements
    • Social Enterprise Disability Employment Mark
    • Local Authority Disability Employment Mark
    • Key benefits of social enterprise accreditation
    • Supporting corporates to deliver social value
    • Which Mark should I apply for?
    • What makes us different?
    • Social enterprise in higher education
    • Social enterprise in health and social care
  • About
    • About Social Enterprise Mark CIC
      • Our team
      • Our Board
      • Certification panel
    • How are we different?
    • Speaker services
    • Our ambassadors
    • Our partners
    • Our awards
    • Our impact
    • Working with corporates
    • International consultancy
    • Testimonials
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Contact
    • Privacy policy
  • Impact Assessment
    • Social impact assessment
    • Social impact guidance
  • Directory
    • Directory of accredited social enterprises
    • Map of accredited social enterprises
  • News & resources
    • Our news
    • Newsletters
      • Sign up to newsletter
    • Mark holder news
      • Submit a news story
    • What is social enterprise?
    • Podcasts & videos
    • Resources for Mark Holders
      • Embedding the Social Enterprise Mark
    • Blog
      • Lucy Findlay’s blog
      • Guest blog
    • Events
      • Annual conference
      • Submit an event
      • Event calendar
    • Resources
      • Branding guide
      • Business advice & mentoring
      • Design thinking guide
      • How to set up a social enterprise
      • Social impact guidance
      • Taxes explained for social enterprises
  • Apply
    • Aspiring Social Enterprises
      • Register your interest
      • Application process
    • Social Enterprise Mark
      • Register your interest
      • How to apply
      • Application process
    • Social Enterprise Gold Mark
      • Register your interest
      • Application process
    • International applications
      • Register your interest
      • Application process
    • Which Mark should I apply for?
    • Renew your Social Enterprise Mark
    • Licence terms and conditions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Contact us
    • Enquire about international partnerships
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Blog - Latest News
You are here: Home1 / Blog2 / Lucy Findlay's Blog3 / Embedding social enterprise globally

Embedding social enterprise globally

June 7, 2016/in Lucy Findlay's Blog /by Sophie Short

As the only international accreditation body for social enterprise, we have witnessed the growing interest in social enterprise from around the world. Almost a quarter of our website hits come from overseas and we now have 3 international Social Enterprise Mark holders.

We have also recently completed a piece of work for the British Council in China, advising on the development of a Chinese social enterprise accreditation system. Following a similar piece of work we did for the Russian Foundation in 2015, there are now more than 30 Russian social enterprises that hold their Social Enterprise Mark. Much of this interest is clearly being delivered and driven, at least in part, by universities and academics who have identified its potential.

British CouncilAn interesting report has just been published by the British Council, looking at how universities across the world are promoting and getting involved with social enterprise. The report responds to the growth of international interest in social enterprise and the parallel growth in interest from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). It highlights a number of ways in which HEIs are supporting the agenda, including:

  • research
  • teaching and improving the student experience
  • partnership opportunities
  • addressing social inequalities and local need
  • creating social impact
  • acting as an incubator/catalyst given their potential economic multiplier effect

One of the major findings of the report is that there is challenge in terms of resourcing and time in partnering with social enterprises, particularly where social enterprise does not form part of a mission or strategy, as well as a lack of social enterprise international definition and understanding. The Social Enterprise Mark and the Social Enterprise Gold Mark offer solutions to some of these problems. By getting buy-in from the whole university into social enterprise, and applying its own systems, processes and rigour to the definition and good practice of social enterprise, as defined by the Mark, the institution demonstrates that the principles have been embedded across the board strategically. It demonstrates to students, staff and partners that it is practicing what it teaches. It also tackles definition issues as there is a clear destination for partner social enterprises to work towards.

The short film that we have recently developed in partnership with HEFCE demonstrates, in the words of the universities that hold the Social Enterprise Mark, the value that staff and students gain from it. I would encourage you to have a look to see the breadth and diversity of work that is going on in UK universities that hold the Social Enterprise Mark and Social Enterprise Gold Mark.

We need to make the most of the fast growth and interest internationally in social enterprise, making sure it is not a fleeting fad. It offers a real alternative to the ‘business as usual’ model. Universities across the world are the leaders in thought and in teaching the next generation. The challenge of embedding it across universities is therefore a key plank in making sure that it is here to stay and that it does not get subsumed and side lined by the next fashionable topic.

We are pleased to offer an exclusive discount package to GuildHE member universities on applications for the Social Enterprise Mark and Social Enterprise Gold Mark. Please contact us for more details.

For universities wishing to find out more about Social Enterprise Mark/Gold Mark accreditation, HEFCE are hosting an event in London on Friday 1st July (12-2pm), where Social Enterprise Mark CIC and representatives from a University which has already been awarded the Social Enterprise Mark will be on hand to provide more information about the accreditation, how to apply, and to answer any questions that you may have. Please click here to book your place.

Tags: international social enterprise accreditation, Social Enterprise, social enterprise in Higher Education, Social Enterprise Mark
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Share on Vk
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://www.socialenterprisemark.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Lucy-global.jpg 550 476 Sophie Short https://www.socialenterprisemark.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/SEMCIC-logo-300x143.jpg Sophie Short2016-06-07 10:01:312016-06-07 15:13:54Embedding social enterprise globally
You might also like
The Soap Co. win PwC Award CLARITY-The Soap Co. wins PwC Building Public Trust Award
Digital leadership programme to create a new generation of business leaders
Social Enterprise Gold Mark Beyond certification – the Mark of a better business
Pioneering competition launched by Beacon Centre
Liverpool Social Economy Panel welcomes Minister for Civil Society
Lucy Findlay Hooked on government support…
Real People HR shortlisted for Personnel Today Awards
Lucy Findlay Podcast – A different way of doing business

Quick Links

  • What is the Aspiring Social Enterprise accreditation?
  • What is the Social Enterprise Mark?
  • What is the Social Enterprise Gold Mark?
  • What is the Social Enterprise Disability Employment Mark?
  • Register your interest
  • Key benefits of accreditation
  • Resources
  • Find a social enterprise
  • News and events
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Certification Panel forum

About us

Social Enterprise Mark CIC is the social enterprise accreditation authority, which provides clear standards to assure the business model remains ethical, credible and commercial.

Accreditations/Awards

Living Wage Employer
SE100 finalist badge
1000 Green Businesses

Partners/Members of


Enhance SE member badge
Social Value UK
UKSSD
CSR Accreditation
Tweets by SE_Mark



Social Enterprise Mark
SE100 WISE100

Social Audit Network
Good Market
tiscreport

Newsletters

January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020

Sign up for our newsletter

Upcoming events

  1. Environment Talks: How Your Pounds Can Protect Our Planet

    January 28 @ 17:30 - 18:30

View All Events





Disability Confident Employer

Social Enterprise Futures Roll of Honour Venus Awards
IoD SW Awards
IoD SW Awards






Wellbeing Economy Alliance

Gender Equality Collective

NIBE
© Social Enterprise Mark CIC 2019. All rights reserved. - Enfold Child Theme by Kriesi
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Westway Trust #CultureMakers Making a Mark Competition

We use certain approved third parties for functional, analytical and tracking cookies (or similar technologies) in order to provide you with the best possible experience.

 

By clicking accept, or by continuing to use our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Change Location
Find awesome listings near you!
Social Enterprise Mark CIC
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Scroll to top